Santa's little helpers..

You know..I was moments away from giving ip on my regular Christmas card photo this year..With photo shoots for other people in the lead up to Christmas, camping and everything else..I didn't really have the inclination.But putting up our Christmas tree provided me with the opportunity and the inclination. It's amzing how a little Christmas music (even if it is HI5!) and some tinsel can get you in the mood you had been both avoiding and worrying wouldn't come..So here it is..They are in their school uniforms..(sigh)..Lucky it's a great Christmas colour hey?? I also reduced the number of cards this year..Being that it was too late and I didn'have the energy to create more..So if you don't get one..I'm sorry..But..

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!

Michael Jackson: Rockin' Robin

Pink: Funhouse

Alive and Cooking theme song

There are others that I can't think of right now ..But these are her faves..I will post about what the bigger girls are listening too these days as well...Tis funny what my darling husband finds himself singing these days..It aint Linkin Park or Pearl Jam..let me tell you...

Final Goodbye..

It was a huge endeavour to get all the Sampson's together - camping..BUSH camping..Thanks Dad and everyone for organising it all. The weekend was fabulous - as these photos can attest. Plenty of fun, flies, sun, dirt, swimming, 4wheel driving, fishing and lots of memories of Grandfather...
I am sure he was watching us..and puffing out proudly at his family...
Seeing his ashes scattered in the river wasn't at all sad for me..It was like he was where he should be..The girls were very respectful at this time. Standing on the bank holding hands and not saying a word. All without any prompting from us.
They coped with the bush toilet system..In fact they took to coming along with me too..You know you are a mother when your children want to assist in buyring your number 2 with a shovel!
They ate damper, caught fish with Grumbles, went on the biscuit behind the boat..Stayed away from the fire..Had a bush shower..Swam in the river..Miss M was TOTALLY clingy, but coped ok considering where she was! The two photos of her show the two opposing sides of her weekend!

And I will leave you with..Grumbles and Hallie and her first fish...He also helped her 'remove'her loose tooth..So the tooth fairy managed to bush tracks to our campsite as well!

Just another one..

She really wasn't too sure about the whole beach deal initially..But got her into her togs and put her on the sand and she was good to go..

Beach trip...

The wonderful thing about a hot spring - little getaways to the beach before Christmas. On this occasion we ran into my brother and his family..So it was a bonus..Fun. boarding, beach cricket..And Miss M's first experience of waves and sand..Well not really..She was at the beach when she was really little - but I don't think that counts..

Of course she ate sand..and more sand..

The girls went boarding in the TINY little waves...and amde sandcastles all afternoon. Infact they dug a hole and spent hours going to and fro to the water to fill it..Who was I to stop them and explain that it was never going to fill? Needless to say we had tired little girls on the way home..

And little Miss loved all the seagulls...They loved her sandwich..

Her first bikini..And possibly her last......Not lomg after these photos were taken she took her bottle and crashed out in her pram in the shade for near on 2 hours..Bless her..
Top the evening off with a shower in the public toilets, a change of clothes for an impromptu photo shoot in the sunset and then KFC on the way home.. Heaven..

Family of three...

It was a decidely pleasant evening, when I only had one child and his parents to photograph! I was very relaxed and young James was also a very willing participant - as these photos can attest..

I was finishing editing these photos yesterday. The photos at the green door were last. I turned off the computer and went to pick up the girls from school - and what did I note as I drove past that very door? Two workmen renovating it! How dare they? Very sad..But I am curious as to see what colour they redo it. So..This was thevery last family to be photographed in front of this cool old door..Lucky you..

Cleaning confession #3

A friend mentioned the other day that my kitchen was remarkably clean after dinner..and yes it was and is...Yes...I clean up my kitchen to avoid my toddler..Naughty Mummy..But seriously she is crazy beautiful. If I sat down instead of rushing around like a blue arse fly..She would mob me..Drape her gorgeous little self all over me..Suck on my trackies..Try to take off my glasses..Post her sticky little chubbies in my mouth..Give me a toy, take the toy back..Give me the toy, take it back..Give me the toy..You get the idea.. If I turned the Tv up to hear over her gabbling and accomanying "ta's"with the give and take routine..She would simpy get louder. And as this time passed..I would get grumpy as would she and the kitchen..Well it would still be covered in dinner crap..SO you see a clean kitchen serves it purpose..She 'helps' load the dishwasher and then racks off with a suitably full tummy to annoy her sisters in the toy room..Better then than me! By the time I am done she is ready to be plonked in the just run bath and then yes..I sit with her and chat and play and splash, and read etc..Both of us happy and ready for the bottle/ blankie routine once it is all done..AND my kitchen is a glowin'..

Mind..When Dadda is home..He makes the ktichen sparkle and I rack off to the bath..Door closed..Good book..Until M locates me and accosts me in the bath..Ratbag, devil, cutie wootie..

That's my confession..

Night..

My blog has a new face..

...and I have added this cute face... I just want to squish those cheeks..And I love the new curls and the smile...

Yes..my blog has had a face lift thanks to my dear sister in law.. Everything is bigger..She is so clever.. And then I spent the evening making my new blog banner..What an effort...I am way to fussy me thinks..

Bye!

A Top - up of cuteness and cheekiness..

for you Sue.. Almost six monthago I photographed these little twinnies and their brother... The day following the shoot..Xavier had gastro.. Looking back at the shots.. he was definitely not his exuberant self.. I think these make up for it..AT LAST..

Also thanks to Kathie for giving me a blog award.. I have to award 5 now..Hmmmm..Gonna do three..

The rules for this award are:

1. Answer these questions...you can only use ONE word!!!

2. Pass this along to 5 of your favorite bloggers!

3. Alert them that you have given them this award!

4. HAVE FUN!!!

1. Where is your cell phone? close..

2. Your hair? air- dryed..

3. Your mother? stressed

4. Your father? stressed

5. Your fave food? lollies

6. Your dream last night? umm?

7. Your fave drink? cappucino

8. Your dream/goal? photography

9. What room are you in? dining

10. Your hobby? scrapbooking

11. Your fear? fat

12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? here

13. Where you were last night? here

14. Something that you aren't? quiet

15. Muffins? yes

16. Wish List Item? camera

17. Where did you grow up? Ballarat

18. Last thing you did? photoshop

19. What are you wearing? dress

20. Your TV? fishing

21 Your Pets? dogs

22. Friends? longterm

23. Your Life? excellent

24. Your Mood? eh....

25. Missing Someone? Tamma

26. Vehicle? shiny

27. Something your not wearing? socks

28. Your fave store? cotton on

29. Your fave colour? blue

30. Last time you laughed? today

31. Last time you cried? Friday

32. Your best friend? Tamma

33. One place that I go to over and over? school

34. One person who emails regularly? Tamma

35. Fave place to eat? retaurant

Hard..Only one word answers.. Read into them what you will..

Three blog awards go to:

1. Mel.. Good friend..Awesome scrapper..

2. Kirsty..Good friend..Awesome photographer

3 Cindy...Good sister inlaw...Good photographer..

BYE!

Going to get organised to photograph my kids and cousins tonight in the park after fish and chips.. Wish me luck...

A big load of scrap...

Here's everything I have scrapped since the retreat 3 weeks ago.. I seem to go in fits and spurts.. Mel came over last night and I did two.. ..Got me going.. and I did three today..

I have a new approach to my scrapping..I was watching Oprah the other day and one of her guest..The author to 'Eat Pray Love'..was on and was talking about her philosophy.. So in between hanging and folding a never ending supply of clean washing..I listened. I had an epihany (sp?).. I wasn't sure what she was referring to exactly..But her point was that we do things that we are supposed to enjoy..But even doing those things feel like we are never doing them good enough..I fall into that cycle with scrapping all the time..and lose my mojo and my inclination as well.. After the retreat I realise alot of us do that..Looking at other ladies scrapping, thinking theirs is so much better..

Well not anymore! I like scrapping. I am sticking things down without thinking too much, I am not looking over my shoulder and trying not to worry whether my pages are good enough.. I have lots of photos and I need to get scrapping!

Go for it too!

C xx